JP 5-00.2 Joint Task Force Planning Guidance and Procedures - BITS

missions), and direct coordination among his subordinate
commanders to ensure unity of effort in accomplishment of
his overall mission, or to maintain integrity of the force,
as prescribed in Joint Pub 2, "Unified Action Armed Forces
(UNAAF)." Joint Pubs 3-01.2, 3-03, and 3-56.23 contain more
detailed discussions of command and control of Marine Corps
TACAIR.
f. OPCON of special operations forces (SOF) may be further
exercised through a subordinate joint special operations
task force (JSOTF) commander (see Figure II-1). The JSOTF
may be specifically established as a joint organization to
meet a specific task, or it may be formed around an existing
force structure.
g. Commanders may decide to delegate to a subordinate
commander authority different from that associated with
OPCON. Three categories of such authority, in decreasing
order, are attachment, support, and coordinating authority.
These relationships are described in Joint Pub 0-2.
h. TACON provides authority that by definition is usually
limited by location, function, and time. It provides
sufficient authority for controlling and directing the
application of force or tactical use of combat support
assets. It does not provide organizational authority or the
authority and responsibility for administrative and logistic
support, which are retained by the commander of the parent
unit unless otherwise specified by the delegating
authority. TACON is particularly well suited to the local
direction and control of elements (e.g., combat or combat
support aviation) capable of rapid reaction to the tactical
requirements of several commanders whose forces are
dispersed over a large area.
i. Command relationships and procedures for changing the
command relationships between the JTF and component and
supporting commands should be specified by the applicable
commanders before deployment begins.
5. JTF Organization
a. The mission to be accomplished and the objective to be
attained in accomplishment of the mission are the two most
fundamental considerations in the establishment of command
organization. Sound command organization provides for unity
of effort, centralized direction, decentralized execution,
common doctrine, and interoperability. Unity of effort is
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